Former Hawkeye hoopster pays homage to state of Iowa's wrestling culture

Editor's note: This story was originally published in March 2017.

On the evening of March 17, 1980, we returned to Iowa City victorious after defeating Georgetown in the NCAA East Region Final, advancing Iowa basketball to its first Final Four in 24 years.

On that same Sunday afternoon in Corvallis, Oregon, the Iowa wrestling team won its third straight NCAA championship and fifth in six seasons.

We arrived at the Field House near midnight, shocked to find it packed to the rafters. The electric atmosphere may never have reached a fever pitch had it not been ignited by the arrival of the Hawkeye wrestling champs before us. It is a memory I’ll never forget.